The largest, highest and lowest lakes of the world: Saline lakes

Williams, W. D.

doi:10.1080/03680770.1995.11900693

Cited by 33 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…While research has mostly focused on saline lakes (Williams 1986(Williams , 1996, less attention has been paid to the ecology of saline streams. This may be due to their scarcity and scattered geographical distribution, and their low economic value as a water resource.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Natural saline aquatic ecosystems are abundant in dryland countries (Williams 1996), and their constituent faunas and floras have a high ecological and biogeographical value because they are usually restricted to these kind of habitats (Beadle 1943;Williams 1985). While research has mostly focused on saline lakes (Williams 1986(Williams , 1996, less attention has been paid to the ecology of saline streams.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal dynamics of macroinvertebrate communities in a semiarid saline spring stream with contrasting environmental conditions

2009

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Semiarid saline streams are rare aquatic ecosystem types. Their constituent biota is expected to have adapted evolutionarily to strong hydrological variability and salinity stress; however, their ecology is not well known. In this study, we quantify the seasonal changes in the structure of the macroinvertebrate community in the Reventón Rambla (south-eastern Spain), a permanent saline spring stream which is included in a drainage system consisting of ephemeral dry channels (so-called ''ramblas''). Seasonal patterns of community structure were studied in two reaches with contrasting environmental regimes using univariate and multivariate statistics. The upstream site showed more stable environmental conditions than the downstream site, and both sites also differed with regard to species richness, and structural and functional group attributes. On a seasonal basis, community dissimilarity was high during periods when both sites were isolated during summer droughts but dissimilarity decreased when both sites were connected through surface flow. Furthermore, the communities tended to show cyclical trajectories in multivariate ordination space. Rather than being related to salinity stress, these patterns seemed to track the hydrological disturbance regime of this rambla system. Spates tended to disrupt communities, while signs of recovery were evident during low-flow periods. Results suggest that salinity fluctuation does not pose a severe abiotic constraint to these adapted macroinvertebrate communities. Their suits of functional properties provide them with the necessary traits to recover quickly from natural disturbance. While human-caused salinization of streams severely impacts communities eventually reducing their recovery potential, our results suggest that communities in natural saline streams may show similar responses to hydrological disturbance as communities from non-saline streams.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal dynamics of macroinvertebrate communities in a semiarid saline spring stream with contrasting environmental conditions

2009

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“…The global volume of freshwater lakes is estimated to be 105 ϫ 10 3 km 3 and of inland saline water to be 85 ϫ 10 3 km 3 (Shiklomanov 1990). Salt lakes include the largest lake on earth, the Caspian Sea, with an area of 622 000 km 2 , many other large lakes, lakes at the highest altitudes for any lake (>3000 m above sea-level on the Altiplano of South America and in Tibet), as well as the lowest lake on earth, the Dead Sea, at about 400 m below sealevel (Williams 1996a). Third, salt lakes have important aesthetic, cultural, economic, recreational, scientific, conservation and ecological values (Williams 1993a(Williams , 1998a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental threats to salt lakes and the likely status of inland saline ecosystems in 2025

2002

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SUMMARYSalt lakes are geographically widespread, numerous and a significant part of the world's inland aquatic ecosystems. They are important natural assets with considerable aesthetic, cultural, economic, recreational, scientific, conservation and ecological values. Some features, notably the composition of the biota, uniquely distinguish them from other aquatic ecosystems. The paper reviews the nature of environmental impacts and their effects upon salt lakes. Its aims are two-fold: to draw attention to the extensive damage that salt lakes have now undergone, and to indicate the likely status of salt lakes in 2025. Salt lakes develop as the termini of inland drainage basins where hydrological inputs and outputs are balanced. These conditions occur in arid and semi-arid regions (approximately one-third of total world land area). Many human activities threaten or have already impacted salt lakes, especially surface inflow diversions, salinization and other catchment activities, mining, pollution, biological disturbances (e.g. introduction of exotic species), and anthropogenically-induced climatic and atmospheric changes. The effects of such activities are always adverse and include changes to the natural character of salt lakes, loss of biodiversity and fundamental limnological changes. The effects are geographically widespread, mostly irreversible, and degrade the values of salt lakes. Four salt lakes are discussed, namely the Aral Sea in central Asia, Mono Lake in California, USA, and Lake Eyre and Lake Cantara South, in Australia. By 2025, most natural salt lakes will have undergone some adverse change. Many permanent ones will have decreased in size and increased in salinity, and many unnatural saline water-bodies will have appeared. In certain regions, many seasonally-filled salt lakes are likely to be drier for longer periods. The extent to which episodically-filled salt lakes will change by 2025 will largely depend upon the nature of climate change in arid regions. Objective cost/benefit analyses of adversely affecting salt lakes are rare, and international bodies have not properly recognized salt lakes as important inland aquatic ecosystems. To redress this situation, there is a need to raise awareness of: (1) the values of salt lakes, (2) the nature of threats and impacts from human activities, and (3) their special management requirements. More effective management and conservation measures need to be implemented. Mono Lake provides an example of what can be achieved in the conservation of salt lakes. Its conservation was largely brought about by (1) the commitment of a nongovernmental organization which recognized its non-economic values, (2) the freedom to express views, (3) a legal system which took account of non-economic values, and (4) a legislature which implemented judicial findings. The conservation of Mono Lake was difficult; the conservation of other salt lakes is likely to be even more difficult. Only international pressure from appropriate organizations will be effective for the conservati...

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“…Saline lakes exist on every continent world wide, and comprise a total volume of approximately 104·000·km 3 (Williams, 1996). The Salton Sea is a 980·km 2 , highly saline lake that formed in [1905][1906] when Colorado River water flooded the Imperial Valley of south-eastern California.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological, biochemical and morphological indicators of osmoregulatory stress in `California' Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus×O. urolepis hornorum) exposed to hypersaline water

Sardella

Matey

Cooper

et al. 2004

Journal of Experimental Biology

110

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SUMMARYThe salinity tolerance of the `California' Mozambique tilapia(Oreochromis mossambicus × O. urolepis hornorum), a current inhabitant of the hypersaline Salton Sea in California, USA, was investigated to identify osmoregulatory stress indicators for possible use in developing a model of salinity tolerance. Seawater-acclimated (35 g l–1) tilapia hybrids were exposed to salinities from 35–95 g l–1, using gradual and direct transfer protocols, and physiological (plasma osmolality, [Na+],[Cl–], oxygen consumption, drinking rate, hematocrit, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, and muscle water content), biochemical(Na+, K+-ATPase) and morphological (number of mature,accessory, immature and apoptotic chloride cells) indicators of osmoregulatory stress were measured. Tilapia tolerated salinities ranging from 35 g l–1 to 65 g l–1 with little or no change in osmoregulatory status; however, in fish exposed to 75–95 g l–1 salinity, plasma osmolality, [Na+],[Cl–], Na+, K+-ATPase, and the number of apoptotic chloride cells, all showed increases. The increase in apoptotic chloride cells at salinities greater than 55 g l–1, prior to changes in physiological and biochemical parameters, indicates that it may be the most sensitive indicator of osmoregulatory stress. Oxygen consumption decreased with salinity, indicating a reduction in activity level at high salinity. Finally, `California' Mozambique tilapia have a salinity tolerance similar to that of pure Mozambique tilapia; however, cellular necrosis at 95 g l–1 indicates they may be unable to withstand extreme salinities for extended periods of time.

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The largest, highest and lowest lakes of the world: Saline lakes

Cited by 33 publications

References 41 publications

Seasonal dynamics of macroinvertebrate communities in a semiarid saline spring stream with contrasting environmental conditions

Seasonal dynamics of macroinvertebrate communities in a semiarid saline spring stream with contrasting environmental conditions

Environmental threats to salt lakes and the likely status of inland saline ecosystems in 2025

Physiological, biochemical and morphological indicators of osmoregulatory stress in `California' Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus×O. urolepis hornorum) exposed to hypersaline water

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